The Kenai River Brown Bears of Dan Bogdan got off to a quick start, but lost a 2-1 overtime decision to the host Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Thursday in North American Hockey League action.
The Bears move to 15-23-3-2 and gain a point on the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues in the race for the final playoff spot in the Midwest Division. The Bears sit 13 points back. Chippewa moves to 15-27-2-1 and is 15 points out of a playoff spot.
The same two teams drop the puck at 4:10 p.m. AST today.
After former Kenai River head coach Josh Petrich resigned for personal reasons Sunday, assistant coach Dan Bogdan took over the team on an interim basis. Bogdan’s first game as interim head coach was Thursday.
Alex Klekotka got the Bears off to a quick start by scoring an unassisted goal just 1 minute, 42 seconds, into the game.
The Bears were able to make that lead stand up until 21 seconds into the third period, when Kyle Schroeder struck to tie it up. Then, with 57 seconds left in the five-minute overtime, Connor Szmul won it for Chippewa.
Gavin Enright made 36 saves for the Bears, while Igor Samokhvalov stopped 35 for Chippewa.
Friday
Steel 2, Brown Bears 1, OT
Kenai River 1 0 0 0 — 1
Chippewa 0 0 1 1 — 2
First period — 1. Kenai River, Klekotka (un.), 1:42. Penalties — Chippewa 1 for 2:00.
Second period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Chippewa 1 for 2:00.
Third period — 2. Chippewa, Schroeder (Davidson, Thiesing), 0:21. Penalties — Chippewa 2 for 4:00.
Overtime — 3. Chippewa, Szmul (Kiecker-Olson, Moulton), 4:03. Penalties — none.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 9-12-13-2—36; Chippewa 9-13-11-5—38.
Goalies — Kenai River, Enright (38 shots, 36 saves); Chippewa, Samokhvalov (36 shots, 35 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 4; Chippewa 0 for 1.
